Astana/Geneva (ICRC) – In a move to promote structured dialogue on international humanitarian law, the ICRC and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently. The secretary-general of the SCO, Rashid Alimov, and the vice-president of the ICRC, Christine Beerli, signed the document on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, on 9 June 2017.
The two organizations have been engaged in dialogue for some time and this latest step is seen as an opportunity to step up their interaction on humanitarian issues and action.
"The ICRC sees this memorandum as paving the way for structured dialogue with the SCO on international humanitarian law and other humanitarian issues related to conflicts and other emergencies," said the ICRC vice-president. "As a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization with global presence, the ICRC has unique expertise in these areas which it is ready to share with SCO," she added.
The memorandum explores the potential for cooperation on issues such as public promotion of international humanitarian law, which remains the governing body of law in any situation of armed conflict. The partnership will also enhance cooperation in areas including disaster prevention, emergency response, health and education.
For further information, please contact:
Ashot Astabatsyan, ICRC Tashkent, +998 93 501 70 43
